by As the fall volleyball sports season begins around the country for college athletes, Indian Country will have many players beginning their careers and finishing up their four year’s of playing. Below are some Native American athletes who compete at the NCAA, NAIA, or NJCAA level. This is by no means a complete list of Native American volleyball players this season but if you do know any Native Athlete please don’t hesitate to share their information with us.
Tiana Dockery, Navajo, – Outside Hitter
Tiana begins are final season with the Kansas Jayhawks and is the only four year senior on the young squad. Tiana will have the distinct honor to become the first Kansas Jayhawk volleyball player to play in four straight NCAA tournaments should her Jayhawks advance to the NCAA’s again. Last season, Tiana started in 21 matches for Kansas, while making an appearance in all 31 games played. She smashed 10+ kills in 12 games and finished third on the team in kills (229), K/set (2.39) and double-doubles (5). Tiana also played in the United States Collegiate volleyball team tournament this summer along with other Native Athletes Lauren Schad and Alicia Ostrander who will be feature below.
Bradley Nash, Navajo, – Outside Hitter
Bradley Nash begins her senior season with the New Mexico State University Aggies where she is currently a two sport athlete. Playing both for the volleyball team but also the women’s basketball team alongside other Native Athlete Abby Scott (Warm Springs). Last season, Nash led the Aggies in attacking with 233 kills and was first on the team with 22 service aces. She posted four double-doubles throughout the season (kills and digs) and was one of the three Aggies to finish the season with 200 digs. Bradley recorded her first double-double of the season at Utah where she tallied 13 kills and 10 dig. In the WAC tournament semifinal against eventual champion Bakersfield, collected 11 kills while garnering a season-high three service aces.
Alicia Ostrander, Oglala-Lakota – Outside Hitter
Alicia begins her final season with the Nebraska Cornhuskers where she will be a two-sport athlete in her final season as well, she will join the women’s basketball team at the conclusion of the volleyball season. Alicia competed with other Native American volleyball players Tiana Dockery and Lauren Schad this summer with the USA Women’s collegiate squads. Ostrander played in 25 matches and made 14 starts in her junior season . She notched 152 kills on the year and averaged 2.49 kills per set to rank fourth on the team . Alicia posted 10 or more kills in nine matches and recorded a career-high 19 kills on 25 swings against Illinois. Alicia went through a breakout stretch in the middle of the season with double-digit kills in seven of eight matches, beginning with 14 kills and four blocks vs. Texas.
Lauren Schad, Cheyenne River Sioux, – Middle Blocker
Lauren will be a junior this season with the University of San Diego Toreros where she plays middle blocker. Schad was also invited this summer to play with the USA women’s collegiate volleyball squad where she played alongside Tiana Dockery and Alicia Ostrander. Last season, Schad played in 25 matches with 21 starts and helped lead USD into the NCAA Tournament. Lauren recorded 135 kills (1.59 kps), while hitting for a .250 clip and was second on the team in blocks with 91, 10 solo. She recorded a season-high 14 kills in a win against Pacific and had 11 kills against Cal State Northridge. She recorded a season-high nine blocks in a win against Pacific and recorded five or more blocks in eight matches.
Aspen Shepard, Navajo, – Middle Hitter
Aspen Shepard begins her junior season with the Haskell Indian Nations University Indians squad who qualified for the MCAC conference tournament last season. Aspen was named for the All-MCAC First Team as a sophomore and was named the Freshman Player of the Year in her first season for the Indians. Last season, Aspen had 22 games where she had double-digit kills with two of games going for 20 and 29 kills respectively. She had a career high 11 digs against St. Mary’s.
Naomi Whitehair, Navajo, – Defensive Specialist
Naomi begins her final season with the University of Texas – El Paso (UTEP) Miners after transferring from the New Mexico Military Institute. As a junior, Naomi played in 89 sets and made four starts. She tallied 10 assists and 10 serving aces and recorded 19 receptions with a .938 reception percentage. Naomi delivered 163 total digs on the season and had seven performances with 10 or more digs. She posted a career-best 12 digs versus Western Kentucky (9/13).
Ohiyah Shirley, Navajo, – Outside Hitter
Ohiyah begins her collegiate career with the Lumberjacks after having an outstanding high school career at Monument Valley High School where Bradley Nash and Naomi Whitehair played HS volleyball as well. She was a four-year starter and two-year team captain in volleyball at Monument Valley HS and was named 2014 Arizona Volleyball Small Schools Player of the Year by azcentral. Ohiyah was also a two-time MaxPreps Player of the Year and 2014 Navajo Times Volleyball Co-Player of the Year. She was also a three-time Navajo Times All-Star Volleyball Team selection and named to Arizona Republic All-Arizona Volleyball First Team, AIA Volleyball Division III Section I First Team and Player of the Year in 2014. She totaled 329 kills, 286 digs, 85 blocks and 58 aces as a senior and averaged 3.7 kills and 3.2 digs per set in her final season.. She helped team win Division III state championship in 2014.
